Dysfunctional attitudes scale perfectionism: A predictor and partial mediator of acute treatment outcome among clinically depressed adolescents

Rachel H. Jacobs, Susan G. Silva, Mark A. Reinecke, John F. Curry, Golda S. Ginsburg, Christopher J. Kratochvil, John S. March

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of perfectionism on acute treatment outcomes was explored in a randomized controlled trial of 439 clinically depressed adolescents (12-17 years of age) enrolled in the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) who received cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), fluoxetine, a combination of CBT and FLX, or pill placebo. Measures included the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised, the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Grades 7-9, and the perfectionism subscale from the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS). Predictor results indicate that adolescents with higher versus lower DAS perfectionism scores at baseline, regardless of treatment, continued to demonstrate elevated depression scores across the acute treatment period. In the case of suicidality, DAS perfectionism impeded improvement. Treatment outcomes were partially mediated by the change in DAS perfectionism across the 12-week period.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)803-813
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Volume38
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

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